Author Topic: Priming tool (Read 1375 times)

contendernut · « **on:** January 10, 2004, 05:53:53 PM »

My RCBS hand priming tool gave out today. I have used it for quite a while now and it had started to split at the seams near the pivot. I'm sure sending it back to RCBS will result in a new one but I'm thinking of ordering a new one anyway. I'm looking at bench mounted tools. I see the APS bench tool takes standard shell holders and you don't have to disassemble it like you do the old stlye hand tool. I'm really looking at the automatic priming tool that uses the primer tubes. Does anyone use this model? Do the shell holders snap in and out without disassembly?

Ross · « **Reply #1 on:** January 10, 2004, 07:13:34 PM »

Contendernut,
I use the RCBS bench mounted "Automatic Priming Tool" 09460 when I have a large batch to do, and I like it fine. The shellholders just slide in like in the press, except that the primer punch must be lifted out. (easy)
A friend pointed out that I don't even need a primer flipper for the pick up step. Just dump the requisite number of primers onto a plastic coffee can lid and pick up the half or so that are correct, then place another lid over the first and invert. Voi lá!
Cheers from the cheapskate,
Ross

Kragman71 · « **Reply #2 on:** January 12, 2004, 05:48:50 AM »

Contendernut,
I have 'bad hands',and need the best priming tool that I can get.
I recently replaced my RCBS 'old style'bench tool,and my hand tool, with a new ATS priming system.
It's a little pricey,but it s the best system that I have ever tried.
Frank

Graybeard · « **Reply #3 on:** January 13, 2004, 05:57:54 AM »

The ONLY priming tool I've used for the past 30+ years is the Lee AutoPrime. I use and recommend it. In over 30 years of priming with the Lee tools I've broken only one.

GB

Arco Nudo · « **Reply #4 on:** January 13, 2004, 07:33:58 AM »

Great galaxies! How did you break it? I have one and the thing is built like an anchor. I like the Lee Autoprime also, but I've broken two of them. The levers that you press seem to be made of weak plastic or metal. It's a better design than the RCBS though.

Duke45 · « **Reply #5 on:** January 21, 2004, 01:22:27 PM »

Graybeard I have always used the primertubes on my rockchucker and redding presses . I would now like to try one of the hand primers. Iwould like to no anything you can tell me about them. Thanks Al.

1911WB · « **Reply #6 on:** January 26, 2004, 06:09:12 PM »

I'm with Graybeard- the Lee tools are great. Like many Lee reloading tools, some of the parts seem cheap; but they work great. I have one set up for large and another for small primers, so I don't have to change out the mechanism. You get a good feel for seating the primers and they're pretty fast to use. Hard to beat for such a cheap price.

Jose Grande · « **Reply #7 on:** January 28, 2004, 11:40:11 AM »

I use the RCBS Hand Priming Tool & I really like. I took the priming system off my Rockchucker because of it.

JimInNJ · « **Reply #8 on:** January 30, 2004, 04:15:06 AM »

Regarding the Hornady hand primimng tool, here is a copy of the feedback I posted on Midway's site back in September:

I just did 100 Large Rifle and 100 Small Rifle primers and now I have one blister on each hand as a result. About the only good thing I can say is that the tool is ambidextrous so when the pain gets too bad in one hand you can switch to the other. The handle pivots from the top (unlike the Lee tool) so it wastes all of the strength of your index finger (which is up by the pivot) unless you slide your hand down to get a better grip. But the body of the tool is too short so the end of it digs into your palm painfully. The cover snaps on so tight you think you are going to break it every time you take it off. When it is on it leaves so much space that primers can flip over or fall out. Before you cover it primers want to spill out each end while you are shaking it to flip them. You have to jiggle the tool after each primer to get the next one to feed. Everything fits together so sloppily that when you jiggle it the tray flops around to the other side. I do not consider wrapping tape or a hose clamp around the tool an acceptable fix. Every time you change sizes and almost every time you remove the tray the rod comes out and you have to fiddle with the thing to get it back in place. About one primer out of each hundred gets caught sideways in the tool. If you didnt notice the added resistance you would probably detonate it trying to force it into the case. I really really hate this thing. But it is faster than using the press.

Castaway · « **Reply #9 on:** January 30, 2004, 09:57:54 AM »

For what it's worth. I've used Lee tool for 10 years now. I wore one out. For lack of the technical term, the circular caming piece that connects the hand squezzing grip to the priming rod wore out. Flattened out, and was disfunctional. Instructions say to lube it, I did, but the surface flattened out anyway. Was I disgusted? No way, I ordered another piece and am going strong. Figure I primed close to 40.000 cases with the original part.

JimInNJ · « **Reply #10 on:** January 30, 2004, 11:17:55 AM »

Thirties, I see you are a master of understatement. :wink:

I could have gotten the Lee or the RCBS, but the Hornady was on sale at Midway, right on the front page. Hornady makes great bullets, so I figured the priming tool couldnt be too bad. I was wrong.

I am usually a very calm person, but when I use this tool I slowly work up to a boil. Probably because I am stuck sitting there with nothing else good to think about, and this thing constantly failing to feed, double feeding, jamming, flopping around, spilling primers and hurting my hand.

I have since found that it does a reasonable job with small pistol primers. But my primary application is rifle primers in tight Lapua brass, and that is no fun. I have also found that I can avoid the feeding and spilling hassles if I leave the tray off and feed the primers one at a time by hand, but that kind of defeats the purpose.

I have never owned the Lee or RCBS hand held tools, so I dont know if I would like either of them any better, and now after my experience with the Hornady I am afraid to spend the money to try. I am however tempted by the RCBS Ram Priming Unit simple and plenty of leverage.

- Jim

HoCoMDHunter · « **Reply #11 on:** January 31, 2004, 03:43:06 AM »

You might consider the Lee Auto Prime II. It uses your single stage press and standard shell holders. It costs a lot less than the APS.

JimInNJ · « **Reply #12 on:** January 31, 2004, 08:16:48 AM »

Thirties, I have read many on-line discussions of primer tools and have always wondered if the contributors actually had experience with more than the one model they were recommending. Precisely the blind men and the elephant problem. And as you point out, a tool that is great for the reloading that one person does may not at all be suitable for another.

HoCoMDHunter, that Auto Prime II looks like just the thing for me. I had never noticed it before. I probably had confused it with the Lee Auto Prime. Anyone have experience with it? Does it feed well? BTW, my birthday is in February. :wink:

- Jim

HoCoMDHunter · « **Reply #13 on:** February 01, 2004, 04:12:43 AM »

I would say that overall, it works well. It is not without it's flaws. So far as feeding goes; because it is bench mounted nothing shakes the primer tray as it is in use. Every 4th or 5th cycle you simply need to tap the tray. This tool uses the weight of the primers above to push the primer above the ram - so operation is a little tedious when you get down to the last few primers. You can see the primers throughout the operation, so you'll know when this is coming. There isn't much to break. The only part that I could imagine breaking in normal use is the plastic elbow between the tray and the die and there is a spring that could wear out, but these are inexpensive parts. I have had occasional jams. These tend to occur when a primer only makes it partway over the ram and ends up getting pinched bewteen the side of the die and the ram. If this happens you need to remove the brass and use a punch and small hammer to tap the ram back down. This happens maybe once or twice per thousand primers. Not too bad IMO.

JimInNJ · « **Reply #14 on:** February 01, 2004, 11:28:08 AM »

HoCoMDHunter, you say operation is a little tedious when you get down to the last few primers. I was already wondering about that looking at the picture. How DO you get the last few to feed? Or do you have to load it with a few more than you intend to use?

- Jim

Honest Abe · « **Reply #15 on:** February 01, 2004, 07:19:28 PM »

I used one for awhile. I went back to the hand held priming tool. You can feed the last few primers with a piece of wire or small screwdriver by sliding them down the chute.

HoCoMDHunter · « **Reply #16 on:** February 02, 2004, 10:35:29 AM »

If you took a cross section of the elbow that goes between the tray and the die it would be "C" shaped. The open part faces you. You can see the primers in the elbow in the pic above. Any pointed object will work. I use a pen or a nail. While I am grabbing the next case with my left hand I push the primers with the right. You only need to do this when you are loading the last few primers, otherwise you refill the tray once it is empty with the 20 or so primers still in the elbow. Hope this makes sense...

JimInNJ · « **Reply #17 on:** February 02, 2004, 11:24:18 AM »

Makes perfect sence. Sounds like this tool would work well for me. I usually load 50 at a time, so as long as I can see them and get to them I wouldn't mind helping the last few along. And on the occasions where I only load a few I could skip the tray and set them in one at a time by hand.

Thanks,
- Jim

thecowboyace · « **Reply #18 on:** February 02, 2004, 04:54:36 PM »

Quote from: 1911WB

I'm with Graybeard- the Lee tools are great. Like many Lee reloading tools, some of the parts seem cheap; but they work great. I have one set up for large and another for small primers, so I don't have to change out the mechanism. You get a good feel for seating the primers and they're pretty fast to use. Hard to beat for such a cheap price.

This is danged sure the best way to go. Also go ahead and buy the complete set (11?) shellholders for it at the same time.

smokey66 · « **Reply #19 on:** February 03, 2004, 03:31:57 AM »

i am NOT a fan of LEE products. the only exception to this is my handheld LEE priming tool. i bought it used 15+ years ago and it works perfectly. if it ever breaks, i will buy another LEE. just my 2 cents...

bgjohn · « **Reply #20 on:** February 03, 2004, 03:48:02 AM »

Quote from: Castaway

For what it's worth. I've used Lee tool for 10 years now. I wore one out. For lack of the technical term, the circular caming piece that connects the hand squezzing grip to the priming rod wore out. Flattened out, and was disfunctional. Instructions say to lube it, I did, but the surface flattened out anyway. Was I disgusted? No way, I ordered another piece and am going strong. Figure I primed close to 40.000 cases with the original part.

Yeah, I've worn out a couple of these links myself. I'm on my third. I wish it was made from steel. The Lee is still the best I've tried.
JM

Chuck White · « **Reply #21 on:** February 03, 2004, 04:14:39 AM »

When I started reloading (1974) I used the priming setup that was mounted on my RCBS Junior press! It got the job done, but it felt like I was doing things backwards.

When I traded in my Junior press for a Rock Chucker (about 1976) I used the same priming setup!

On a whim, I bought a Lee hand primer and liked it pretty well! I couldn't prime very many and my hand would cramp up, so I parted with it!

Then I bought the RCBS bench mounted auto prime tool (about 1978), love it and still use it!

BruceP · « **Reply #22 on:** February 03, 2004, 04:43:02 AM »

Like Graybeard I use the Lee autoprime, and like 1911WB I have two of them. One for small primers and one for large.
BruceP

thecowboyace · « **Reply #23 on:** February 03, 2004, 12:54:29 PM »

Quote from: JimInNJ

....could have gotten Lee or RCBS, Hornady on sale @ Midway, ---front page. Hornady great bullets, .. figured priming tool couldnt be bad. I was wrong.
..as usually very calm person, but using this tool I slowly work up to a boil. ..because I am stuck sitting there with nothing else about, and this thing constantly failing to feed, double feeding, jamming, flopping around, spilling primers and hurting my hand.
..since found it does a reasonable job with small pistol primers..my primary application..rifle primers in tight Lapua brass, and that..no fun. ..also found ..can avoid the feeding/spilling hassles by leavingtray off..feed the primers one at a time by hand, but that kind of defeats the purpose...never owned.Lee/RCBS hand held tools, dont know if either of them any better, with my experience with the Hornady..afraid to spend the money to try...however tempted by the RCBS Ram Priming Unit simple and plenty of leverage.
- Jim

Lot dropped. I have two Lee handiPrimes and two Lee Ram Priming Unit and definitely like them both (Have Small/Large in both with the 11 pc shellholder set for the HandiPrimes. Now the RamPrimes use the press shellholder for its work. All of us have had an a primer that did not seat perfectly up in where it supposed two be, even when you have put the ummmph behind the HandiPrime to where it makes that most horrible sound............Ain't that right, yea, I be right...I be so right that I now that RCRedHorn HandPrime have been either bent a tad or actually broken. One reason the Ram prime is nice is that if you buy a new set of dies for that new caliber and by chance, and there is a fair chance of us buying a milsurp that Lee has not put the HandiPrime shellholder that fits your gun into that set. I now have two guns , one for me and another fella's gun, that I have to prime and load for. We got our shellholders for our calibers when we bought the dies so while we have the Lee shellholders on order we can still use the RamPrime with the press shellholder for each of our calibers.

Can't remember if I finished the part about that one primer that is still a hanging down, you just put the RamPrime in place, almost same of putting a set of dies in place, put the case into the shellholder and remember that you push downward to set the primer instead of pulling upward as when you use the, on the older RCBS presses, which mine is old enough all the words on it is RCBS and even with that by looking at it you know it is a RCBS press, and the control that you have by using the downward stroke you have so much more pressure control going down than when when pulling upward on the press arm. Lilke I say, I could not be loading my 7.62x54R's without the LEE RAM-PRIME. Oh another reason for two of the Ram Primes the first time that I switched the large priming pin/primer holder and put the small priming pin/primer holder it, the ching-a-ding, all of the unit spring, pin and collar went somewhere. So I just flubbed the dubb and got two that I don't have to mess with. Don't matter one "tinker's damn" but when you change things out over and over you have wear and certainly a chance for loosing/breaking a part that most of us would have to order, living in a town that the BIG BROWN TRUCK don't go to, cause ain't nobody in the world except you and that big family down that road knows that it is there. Sorta like saying living in Ruby Ridge was like having a CircleK,Allsup's,7-11 in walking distance.

By the way I use Lee's Universal DePrimer and I like using it. Another step, maybe 3/4's of a extra step in doing/using it.

By the way newbies, we know you be out there, come on in and visit awhile, but I would like for all of us to hit Midway USA up for one of their paper, snail-mail catalogs to be sent to you. In most instances, you will see exactly what they are talking about. Cabela's-nice an pretty and such Midways got 'em all beat. Or there any out there that Midway can't beat but come close too. Heck, I bought a long time ago, which every reloader needs, doesn't load a shell or such but it is a 3-hole punch (along with those little donut holes that reinforce the paper at the holes) where you can punch them holes in stuff to put in your shooting log book. Always keeping notes and such.

hubcap · « **Reply #24 on:** February 09, 2004, 11:21:26 PM »

I, like Graybeard, have been loading for nearly 30 years. There is ONLY ONE way to prime--Lee Auto Prime. Buy one for large and one for small primers so you don't have to change trays. You'll never regret it.

longwinters · « **Reply #25 on:** February 10, 2004, 11:56:36 AM »

I am also not generally a Lee product fan, but on you guys testimonials I bought one last week. I looked at it and thought "what a piece of plastic junk" but just like you said, the thing works and works well!

long